Whole-leaf chamomile, lemongrass and liquorice root in 12 compostable pyramid bags, in a tin with a viewing window. Caffeine-free. Grown by a women's herbal tea co-operative in Kenya.
It contains liquorice root — which matters for a bedtime tea
The ingredients are organic chamomile blossoms, organic lemongrass and organic liquorice root. The liquorice is what makes the blend taste sweet without sugar, and it is worth knowing about — particularly for a tea people drink every night.
Liquorice contains glycyrrhizin, which makes the kidneys retain sodium and excrete potassium. Over time and in quantity that raises blood pressure and lowers blood potassium, which causes muscle weakness and cramps and, rarely, heart rhythm disturbances. The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food set 100 mg of glycyrrhizin a day as an upper limit for regular consumption, and noted that some people are affected at lower intakes.
One cup is not the issue. A cup every night for months might be, especially if you also eat liquorice sweets or drink other liquorice-containing teas without realising it — it is in a great many "sweet" herbal blends.
Take particular care, or choose plain chamomile, if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or low potassium, or if you take diuretics, corticosteroids or digoxin. In pregnancy, keep liquorice intake low — Finnish authorities advise pregnant women to avoid it, after research linking heavy maternal consumption to poorer cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children.
Chamomile and the daisy family
Chamomile is an Asteraceae, along with ragweed, arnica, echinacea, marigold and chrysanthemum. People sensitised to that family can react to chamomile tea — usually itching or swelling of the mouth, occasionally more. If ragweed pollen or chrysanthemums give you trouble, be cautious.
Whole leaf in a bag
Most teabags contain fannings and dust — the smallest particles left after sorting. They brew fast because there is enormous surface area, and they give everything up at once, which is why a teabag cannot be used twice.
A pyramid bag exists because whole leaf needs room to unfurl. Flat paper bags press the leaf into a wafer and water cannot circulate. These can be resteeped for a second cup — 24 cups from 12 bags.
Compostable
Worth knowing why this matters: a great many conventional teabags are sealed with polypropylene, which does not break down. Bags marked compostable avoid that. Check whether yours are certified for home composting or only for industrial composting, since the two are different.
Criatura
Biohême
Criatura
Biohême
